Media looses objectivity
Ratheesh Kaliyadan
Did you listen today's ( Nov 21, 2011) Malayala Manorama and Mathrubhoomi? The impartial and independent research oriented journalists of these two news papers investigated in the same field and brought out contradicting findings. The ordinary people who are addicted to the newspaper argue in street for their 'own' newspaper's view.The subject of inquiry is CPI(M)'s area conference in Nileswar, Kasaragod district.
Malayalamanoram here brought a first page news with blue title in a blue box. It says the Pinarayi fraction caught Nileswar area committee. strong supporter of Pinarayi became the secretary in a cleverly attempt of Pinarayi fraction. The reporter elaborates their reasons with 'credible and authentic' sources. They are supplementing the story with future impact of the election.
Mathrubhoomi's reporter ascertained that the Nileswar area committee sustained by the VS fraction.The committee members elected, extracts of discussions and support of various local committees used to support their view.
The contradictory versions of the two gigantic news papers itself make a threat to believably of these news papers.Fraction is a reality in CPI(M) is a reality. This does not means all conferences and election procedures are part of it. Such a generalisation of the issue of fraction does not help any news media for a large extent.Objectivity, the paramount value of reporting is a line drawn in the water tub. Though you can't be objective, don't try to mislead and cheat your readers. At-least keep a minimum level of professional ethics in making stories is our liability.
Monday, November 21, 2011
Saturday, November 12, 2011
climate change
CSE's South Asian Media Briefing Workshop on Climate Change
The stage is getting set for the 17th Conference of Parties (CoP) in Durban. This is also the year which might sound the death knell for the Kyoto Protocol. In which direction would climate change negotiations and action head in the coming years? What more evidence has the science and study of climate change thrown up? And would the debates and discussions on mitigation and adaptation be a little more transparent, coherent and comprehensible this year?
Centre for Science and Environment’s (CSE) Media Resource Unit, think these and many other similar questions might find an answer at our Annual South Asian Media Briefing Workshop on Climate Change. The workshop is scheduled on November 16-17, 2011 in New Delhi.
Selected 80 journalists from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lankawill participate. the selected journalists are interested in getting some insights into the existing and future horizons of the climate debate. Join national negotiators, policymakers, climate change experts, civil society representatives and other journalists in digging for the real dirt.
Poznan to Durban: the state of climate negotiations and politics,The science and impacts of climate change: new evidences, Expectations from Durban, REDD and REDD+: Carbon sticks or trees, Trade and climate change: is this the new lever for climate actions? CDM – Subsidy to fossils or leapfrog to technology? Low carbon growth: future of renewables? The future of climate negotiations: Durban and beyond etc will be majour theme of sessions.
Four journalists are invited for the workshop from Kerala. They are: Ratheesh Kaliyadan, editorial advisor, Eureka, K Rajendran, news editor, Kairali TV, Jayakrishnan S, news editor, Deepika, K P M Basheer, special correspondent, The Hindu.
Ratheesh Kaliyadan is the only independent journalist selected for the South Asian Media breifing workshop. He is working as a Higher Secondary School Teacher in Journalism at Govt. Girls HSS, Thalassery, Kannur and Editorial board member of Eureka, the only children's science magazine in Malayalam. Ratheesh Kaliyadan is the Director of Media Analysis & Research Center. We are proud to be part of the climate change negotiations.
The stage is getting set for the 17th Conference of Parties (CoP) in Durban. This is also the year which might sound the death knell for the Kyoto Protocol. In which direction would climate change negotiations and action head in the coming years? What more evidence has the science and study of climate change thrown up? And would the debates and discussions on mitigation and adaptation be a little more transparent, coherent and comprehensible this year?
Centre for Science and Environment’s (CSE) Media Resource Unit, think these and many other similar questions might find an answer at our Annual South Asian Media Briefing Workshop on Climate Change. The workshop is scheduled on November 16-17, 2011 in New Delhi.
Selected 80 journalists from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lankawill participate. the selected journalists are interested in getting some insights into the existing and future horizons of the climate debate. Join national negotiators, policymakers, climate change experts, civil society representatives and other journalists in digging for the real dirt.
Poznan to Durban: the state of climate negotiations and politics,The science and impacts of climate change: new evidences, Expectations from Durban, REDD and REDD+: Carbon sticks or trees, Trade and climate change: is this the new lever for climate actions? CDM – Subsidy to fossils or leapfrog to technology? Low carbon growth: future of renewables? The future of climate negotiations: Durban and beyond etc will be majour theme of sessions.
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| Ratheesh Kaliyadan |
Ratheesh Kaliyadan is the only independent journalist selected for the South Asian Media breifing workshop. He is working as a Higher Secondary School Teacher in Journalism at Govt. Girls HSS, Thalassery, Kannur and Editorial board member of Eureka, the only children's science magazine in Malayalam. Ratheesh Kaliyadan is the Director of Media Analysis & Research Center. We are proud to be part of the climate change negotiations.
Saturday, October 22, 2011
media responsibilities
MEDIA RESPONSIBILITIES
Markanteya Katju
Markanteya Katju
Friends,
As you know, I have only recently become the Chairman of the Press Council of India. It is a new job for me as I was earlier in the legal world for 40 years, 20 years as a lawyer and 20 years as a Judge.I wish to thank you all for accepting my invitation for this get together and for coming here.
Now, that I have come into your world I need your guidance, advice and suggestions so that I may be able to perform my duties properly.
I have arranged this get together of media people because I think that the time has now come in this country when some introspection is required by the media. Many people, not only those in authority but even ordinary people, have started saying that the media has become irresponsible, wayward and needs to be reined in.
Only a couple of days back I read in the newspapers that the Union Government has issued some regulations regarding licences for news channels, about which there was a lot of reaction.
Under the Constitution of India freedom of the media is part of the freedom of speech guaranteed by Article 19 (1) (a) of the Constitution. However, no freedom can be absolute, and reasonable restrictions can be placed on them. One of the basic tasks of the media is to provide truthful and objective information to the people which will enable them to form rational opinions, which is a sine qua non in a democracy. But is the Indian media performing this role properly?
I may only mention certain defects in the functioning of the Indian media today:
(i)The media often twist facts. In this connection, I would like to give an example.
I sat for several months with Hon’ble Mrs. Justice Gyan Sudha Misra in a Bench of the Supreme Court. One day, a leading English newspaper of the country published on its front page a photograph of Hon’ble Justice Misra with the caption “Supreme Court Judge says that her daughters are liabilities”.
This was a totally distorted and fallacious news and that too published in the front page of a leading English newspaper.
The correct facts were that Supreme Court Judges have to disclose their assets and liabilities. Against the liabilities column Justice Misra wrote ‘two daughters to be married’. Strictly speaking it was not necessary to mention this because liabilities means legal liabilities e.g. housing loan, car loan, etc. However, the intention of Justice Misra was obviously to say that she had to spend a lot of money in her daughters’ future marriage. She has three daughters (no son) only one of whom has been married and two are yet to be married. Justice Misra never said nor intended to say that her daughters were liabilities, and the news published was totally false and defamatory with the obvious intention of creating a sensation.
This publication was of tremendous embarrassment and grief not only to Justice Misra but also to members of her family. Did the publisher of this news items ever think how much pain and embarrassment it would cause to Justice Misra and her family? Obviously not. All that the publisher of that news sought was to create a sensation by twisting the correct facts.
Even if Justice Misra had made a mistake in writing “ two daughters to be married” against the column of liabilities, should the media have cashed in on this mistake and totally distorted it without realizing how much pain it was causing to some people? I ask the media people assembled here today to themselves introspect and seek the answer.
(ii)The issue of paid news has become prominent of late. In the 2009 elections, it was a scandal. How to stop this vicious practice needs to be discussed among us. Incidentally, in compliance with the order of the Chief Information Commissioner dated 19.9.2011, we have placed the 71-page report of the Committee consisting of Shri Paranjoy Guha Thakurta and Mr. Sreenivas Reddy on our website www.presscouncil.nic.in with the disclaimer that the Press Council had rejected this report in its meeting held on 26.4.2010. .
(iii)The media often portrays non issues as real issues while the real issues are sidelined. The real issues in the country are economic, that is the terrible economic conditions in which 80% of our people are living, the poverty, unemployment, lack of housing and medical care etc. Instead of addressing these real issues, the media often tries to divert the attention of the people to non-issues, such as that the wife of a film actor has become pregnant, whether that lady will give birth to a single child or to twins etc. Are these the real issues facing the nation?
In the Lakme India Fashion Week event, there were 512 accredited journalists covering the event in which models were displaying cotton garments, while the men and women who grew that cotton were killing themselves at a distance of an hour’s flight from Nagpur in the Vidharbha region. Nobody told that story except one or two journalists, locally.
Is this a responsible way for the Indian media to function? Should the media turn a Nelson’s eye to the harsh economic realities facing over 75 per cent of our people, and concentrate on some ‘Potemkin villages’ where all is glamour and show biz? Are not the Indian media behaving much like Queen Marie Antoinette, who said that if the people had no bread, they should eat cake.
No doubt, sometimes the media mentions farmers’ suicides, the rise in the price of essential commodities, and so on, but such coverage is at most 5 to 10 per cent of the total. The bulk of the coverage goes to showing the life of film stars, pop music, fashion parades, cricket and astrology.
(iv)Bomb blasts have taken place near the Delhi High Court, in Bombay, Bangalore etc. Within a few hours of such bomb blasts many T V channels started showing news item that Indian Mujahidin or Jaish-e-Mohammed or Harkatul-jihad-e-islam have sent e-mails or SMS claiming responsibility. The names of such alleged organizations will always be Muslim names. Now an e-mail can be sent by any mischievous person, but by showing this on TV channels and next day in the newspapers the tendency is to brand all Muslims in the country as terrorists and bomb throwers.
The truth is that 99% people of all communities, whether Hindu, Muslim, Christian or Sikh and of whatever caste or region are good. But the manner in which such news is shown on TV screens and published in the newspapers tend to create the impression that all Muslims are terrorists, and evil, which is totally false. The person who sends such e-mails or SMS obviously wants to create hatred between Hindu and Muslims, which is the old British divide and rule policy continuing even today. Should the media, wittingly or unwittingly, become part of this policy of divide and rule?
I have only referred to some of the defects in the Indian media. No doubt there are defects not only in the media but in other institutions also e.g. the judiciary, bureaucracy etc. but all of us must try to remove these defects.
There are two ways of removing these defects in the media. One is the democratic way, that is by discussions, consultations and persuasion, which is the method I prefer. The other way is by using harsh measures against the media e.g. by imposing heavy fines on the defaulters, stopping Government advertisements for them, suspending their licence etc.
In my opinion, in a democracy, we should first try the first method for rectifying the defects, namely the democratic method. It is for this purpose that I have decided to have regular get togethers with the media, including the electronic media, so that we can all introspect and ourselves find out ways and means of rectifying the defects in the media, rather than this being done by some government authority or external agency.
For this purpose, I propose to have such get togethers, like the one as we are having today, every two or three months, in which we will discuss issues relating to the media and try to think how we can improve the performance of the media so that it may win the respect and confidence of the people of the country.
Such meetings will not be formal meetings of the Press Council of India but only informal get togethers. No doubt, the electronic media is not under the Press Council of India Act, but surely there is nothing wrong in discussing matters relating to media with them also. After all, the ultimate purpose of the print media and the electronic media is the same, and journalistic ethics apply to both.
No doubt, if the media proves incorrigible, harsh measures may be required, but in my opinion that should be resorted to only as a last resort and in extreme situations. Ordinarily, we should first try to resolve the issues by discussion, consultation and self-regulation. That is the approach which should be ordinarily first tried in a democracy. I, therefore, respectfully request the Union Government to kindly defer implementation of its recent decision regarding the news channel license, so that we can ourselves discuss the issue thoroughly and ourselves take corrective measures in this connection.
Till now the function of the Press Council was only adjudication. I intend to make the Press Council an instrument of mediation in addition, which is in my opinion the democratic approach. For this purpose, I need the help and co-operation and advice of all of you.
Presently, India is passing through a transitional period in its history, the transition being from feudal agricultural society to modern industrial society. This is a very painful and agonizing period in history. If you have read the history of Europe from the 16{+t}{+h} to the 19{+t}{+h} Centuries, which was the transitional period there, you will find that this period was accompanied by tremendous turbulence, turmoil, wars, revolutions, social churning, chaos, intellectual ferment etc. It was only after going through this fire that modern society emerged in Europe. Presently, India is going through this fire. We are going through a very painful period in our history, which I think will last for another 20 years or so before modern industrial society emerges in India.
The media too must help society in going through this transitional period as quickly as possible, and by reducing the pain. This, it can do by attacking feudal ideas e.g. casteism and communalism and promoting modern scientific ideas.
Before I conclude, I once again repeat my appeal to the Indian Government through the Prime Minister to release Dr. Khalil Chisty who is in Ajmer Jail. He is 80 years old and has not very long to live. He was an eminent virologist in Karachi Medical College and was a Ph.D from Edinburgh University. He is a heart patient and has many other ailments also. He is unable to walk. In the name of humanity I appeal to the Indian Government to release him and allow him to get back to home in Karachi to his wife and daughter who live there. The Pakistan Government honoured my appeal and released Gopal Das from a Pakistani Jail. I am sad that the Indian Government has not yet honoured my appeal made several months ago to the Hon’ble Prime Minister, the Hon’ble Home Minister, and His Excellency the Governor of Rajasthan. In my opinion, the prestige of our country will be increased if Dr. Chisty is released, whereas if he dies in jail, we will be disgraced.
I now wish all of you to give your views.
(This is the text of the speech delivered by Hon’ble Mr. Justice M. Katju, Chairman, Press Council of India, to the mediapersons on their responsibility at a get together at his home in New Delhi on October 10, 2011.)
Friday, September 30, 2011
teacher tips/ Video Interview
Nine tips for journalists on shooting video interviews
Madhav Chandra Chandel
As more journalists start shooting video, I got these tips from a pro on how to make sure those videos are newsworthy.Los Angeles-based Doug Mazell, long-time film producer and director of photography, has drawn up a list of nine practical tips on how to shoot a quality video interview.
1. Don't forget about sound! Find a very quiet place to record the interview. Keep your subject close so the on-camera microphone records the best-possible sound.
2. Try to keep the face of your subject the brightest part of the scene. Look at the background of your video image -- if it seems very bright, change your composition. This might only require moving to the right or to the left just a few feet. Look at the entire frame, not just the face of your subject. A good image consists of a good subject and a better background.
3. Try to keep the background clutter-free. Your brain may isolate your subject, but the camera sees everything. Look deep into your video image and try to keep the background clean. Again, this may just require moving to the the left or to the right a few feet.
4. When asking a question of your subjects, have them repeat the question in their answer.
5. If possible, shoot video of items, subjects or locations that your subject may refer to in the interview. These shots can be used to help tell the story.
6. Write down 5 questions that will work in every situation and tape it to your camera.
7. Try to use a mono pod to steady your camera.
8. Always carry spare batteries and memory cards.
9. Keep you camera and lenses as clean as possible.
Madhav Chandra Chandel
1. Don't forget about sound! Find a very quiet place to record the interview. Keep your subject close so the on-camera microphone records the best-possible sound.
2. Try to keep the face of your subject the brightest part of the scene. Look at the background of your video image -- if it seems very bright, change your composition. This might only require moving to the right or to the left just a few feet. Look at the entire frame, not just the face of your subject. A good image consists of a good subject and a better background.
3. Try to keep the background clutter-free. Your brain may isolate your subject, but the camera sees everything. Look deep into your video image and try to keep the background clean. Again, this may just require moving to the the left or to the right a few feet.
4. When asking a question of your subjects, have them repeat the question in their answer.
5. If possible, shoot video of items, subjects or locations that your subject may refer to in the interview. These shots can be used to help tell the story.
6. Write down 5 questions that will work in every situation and tape it to your camera.
7. Try to use a mono pod to steady your camera.
8. Always carry spare batteries and memory cards.
9. Keep you camera and lenses as clean as possible.
Monday, September 26, 2011
CIET Media club registration form
MEDIA CLUB
Registration Form
1. Name of the School
2. Name of the Principal/Director /VP/HM:
3. Address/Phone/Fax/:
4. E-mail of the School:
5. E-Mail of the Principal:
6. Name and Ph. No. of Media-Club coordinator:
We wish to establish a Media Club in our School. The school will take full responsibility of planning, implementing and monitoring all the activities related to the Media Club.
Date: Signature of the Principal/ Head
Place: of the Institution with seal
Saturday, September 24, 2011
David Barsamian deported
INDIA DEPORTS US RADIO JOURNALIST
Ratheesh Kaliyadan
India deported David Barsamian, an US radio journalist and founder of Alternative Radio. He was was deported on arrival from Indira Gandhi International Airport,New Delhi in the early hours of Sept 23,2011. He arrived in Delhi sometime after midnight, and his being “put back” on a flight at 3am. Why did the airport authority took such a quick decision? Is he a criminal? Or did he do any harm to the nation? Such questions are raised in the minds of the people who were happened to know the happenings.
According to news agencies, "he was found to have allegedly violated visa norms during his previous visit to the country".Sources said Barsamian had reported on events in Jammu and Kashmir during his last visit to India and these reports were found to be "not based on facts". They alleged that he violated his Visa norms during his visit in 2009-10 by indulging in professional work while holding a tourist visa. He was thereafter put on a watchlist by the immigration authorities in order to prevent his entry when he visits the country again. Sources said Barsamian during his visit to Kashmir Valley had interactions with separatist leaders and also reported on the situation in the Kashmir valley. Barsamian is reported to have travelled extensively in connection with his work( PTI 07:09 PM,Sep 23,2011).
David has been visiting India almost every year since the early 1970s. He did a series of interviews with locals and activists in Kasmir.In an exclusive interview to Greater Kashmir Barsamian said the consciousness of Kashmiris had shifted after 2008. “I observe that people especially the youth of Kashmir are more confident and politically conscious as compared to my past visits in 1996 and 2007. They are now using the non-violent means to press for their political demands. It’s the most effective form to fight for your rights,”
He said the gains in 2010 should be sustained by concerted efforts in the future. “There has to be historical understanding, sustained process, dedication and organization among people who are at work,”
Barsamian said. “There have been instances where struggles have been defused by weakening the different sections of the society. Like the infighting among the groups. This ultimately benefits the power”.
David Barsamian launched staunch criticisms against Indian media who hides the Kashmiri realities in Human Right violations by different agencies. Deportation Barsamian is not an alienated incident in India. We have long years' history in deportation begins from the first newspaper itself. The pre-independent Indian rulers tortured and deported several journalists to protect the East India Company's interests. But the post-independent India also proved we are not far away from the previous rulers.Less than a year ago, American academic Richard Shapiard upon arrival from the Indira Gandhi International airport. His crime, presumably, was an article on two on the human rights situation in Kashmir. Earlier this month, the journalist David Devadas was assaulted by the Jammu and Kashmir police.
It is true that for India, Jammu&Kasmir issues are too hot. It is a prestigious part of our nation. Nobody will support if anybody raise voice against Indian interest in the issue. At the sametime, the humanright issues should be noted and remedials are needed.To protect them, deportation of journalists are not the real way.
Ratheesh Kaliyadan
India deported David Barsamian, an US radio journalist and founder of Alternative Radio. He was was deported on arrival from Indira Gandhi International Airport,New Delhi in the early hours of Sept 23,2011. He arrived in Delhi sometime after midnight, and his being “put back” on a flight at 3am. Why did the airport authority took such a quick decision? Is he a criminal? Or did he do any harm to the nation? Such questions are raised in the minds of the people who were happened to know the happenings.
According to news agencies, "he was found to have allegedly violated visa norms during his previous visit to the country".Sources said Barsamian had reported on events in Jammu and Kashmir during his last visit to India and these reports were found to be "not based on facts". They alleged that he violated his Visa norms during his visit in 2009-10 by indulging in professional work while holding a tourist visa. He was thereafter put on a watchlist by the immigration authorities in order to prevent his entry when he visits the country again. Sources said Barsamian during his visit to Kashmir Valley had interactions with separatist leaders and also reported on the situation in the Kashmir valley. Barsamian is reported to have travelled extensively in connection with his work( PTI 07:09 PM,Sep 23,2011).
David has been visiting India almost every year since the early 1970s. He did a series of interviews with locals and activists in Kasmir.In an exclusive interview to Greater Kashmir Barsamian said the consciousness of Kashmiris had shifted after 2008. “I observe that people especially the youth of Kashmir are more confident and politically conscious as compared to my past visits in 1996 and 2007. They are now using the non-violent means to press for their political demands. It’s the most effective form to fight for your rights,”
He said the gains in 2010 should be sustained by concerted efforts in the future. “There has to be historical understanding, sustained process, dedication and organization among people who are at work,”
Barsamian said. “There have been instances where struggles have been defused by weakening the different sections of the society. Like the infighting among the groups. This ultimately benefits the power”.
David Barsamian launched staunch criticisms against Indian media who hides the Kashmiri realities in Human Right violations by different agencies. Deportation Barsamian is not an alienated incident in India. We have long years' history in deportation begins from the first newspaper itself. The pre-independent Indian rulers tortured and deported several journalists to protect the East India Company's interests. But the post-independent India also proved we are not far away from the previous rulers.Less than a year ago, American academic Richard Shapiard upon arrival from the Indira Gandhi International airport. His crime, presumably, was an article on two on the human rights situation in Kashmir. Earlier this month, the journalist David Devadas was assaulted by the Jammu and Kashmir police.
It is true that for India, Jammu&Kasmir issues are too hot. It is a prestigious part of our nation. Nobody will support if anybody raise voice against Indian interest in the issue. At the sametime, the humanright issues should be noted and remedials are needed.To protect them, deportation of journalists are not the real way.
Friday, September 9, 2011
Onam and Communism
MYTH AND REALITY IN ONAM TRADITIONS
Ratheesh Kaliyadan
Legendary story behind the Onam celebration exposes the nostalgic feel of abundance which was the trade mark of the then Mavelinadu. Abundance is a way to envy too. The story also reveals Gods’ envy over legendary rulers who grabbed hearts and minds of their subjects.
Mahabali is one of the major martyrs of the envy. The king belongs to the Asura tradition. His regime was admired by everybody and became a celebrity all over, including the dais of Gods. The Mavelinadu was a kingdom with abundance where no theft, illegal practices and cheaters. Generosity was the embodiment of the king Mahabali.
The envious gods met, shared their anxiety and decided to teach the king a lesson; a lesson of cheating. Lord Vishnu was in charge of contacting Mahabali and implements the operation. Vishnu’s incarnation Vamana approached Mahabali. Vamana, a Brahmin dwarf boy begged the generous king for three steps of land. Mahabali granted the wish. Within seconds, Vamana grew into an enormous figure. The first step of the figure covered earth, the second one the heaven. The generous king became in a chaos. But he never went back to his promise. The king offered his head for Vamana to place his third step. The heavy step sent to Patala (beneath the earth). The envious gods sent a truthful king to hell. Vamana sanctioned permission to the king to visit his subjects once a year. The day is Onam. Every Malayali try their best to be in abundance in this day. The old saying “kanam vittum onam unnanam” (celebrate Onam even by selling the only piece of land) reflects the importance of Onam celebrations to Malayalis.
POOKKALAM
Onam is a harvest festival of Kerala. The celebrations are colored with beautiful pookkalams.The pookkalam begins on the day of Atham and ends on the day of Onam. It is the ‘formal inauguration’ of Onam festivities. Atham is the day in Malayalam month of Chingam. Atham pathu Ponnonam means tenth day of Atham is Onam. These ten days are decorated with pookkalams in front of every house. The much appreciated pookkalam is a floral tribute to the generous king Mahabali. Traditionally the flowers are collected from their own surroundings. Children were in the fore front of flower collection and making pookkalams. They collected local flowers and filled their baskets with the ‘brands’ like Thumba, Mukkuti, odapoo, Mandaram, Thechi, Krishnakireedam, Rajamalli, Shankhupushpam, Nangyarvattom and Aripoo. Kerala changed a lot due to social and political interventions. The state is far away from the agriculture and its cultural notions. So these flowers are not plenty now a day. Our children are not so much fond to collect flowers.
PRAKCOMMUNISM
Mahabali was a comrade!!! Was he actually? We have no specific answer. But he was a champion of a ‘socialist’ society long years before such a concept is emerged. Nostalgia of Onam reminds the long marched prak communist life. It sustained in pre-historic era. People lived in gothras where everything was public. Tools, food items and products were not private entities. They shared everything among the members. There is no clash between rich and poor. Even the concept of richness is unaware of them. Naturally, they had no scope for tortures and torturing mechanisms. Scope for theft and cheating is limited. Limited resources and limited utilities made them to be shared. The means of attaining dreams were also depended the limited sources. Onam is tagged with a legendary tale. Still it provides an ethos of such a life, called prak communism. Communists dream such a world order to be established through revolutions. Listen what Engels says: “socialism is the expression of absolute truth, reason and justice and has only to be discovered to conquer the entire world by virtue of its own power.”
MARKET IN ONAM CELEBRATIONS
Market oriented economy is the champions of almost all festivals. Onam is not an exception. Take the case of pookkalams. It is one of the major competitions in Onam days in Kerala. Almost all organizations that offer Onam celebrations conduct the competition. A feel that ‘what is the relevance of Onam without a ‘pookkalam’ is built consciously. Actually the feel take away the heart and ambience of Onam, the harvest festive. Instead of collecting flowers from around, we depend the flower market. The traditional flowers are hijacked by Jasmins and Chrysanthemums flowered in private fields. Majority of flowers flow from Gundelpet and Bangalore. The flower market is alive round clock. Pookkalams became costly by the dependence and conscious efforts to showcase the tradition.
This season is not only good for flowers but also for all trades. Onam season is the major market field of brands. It is a period of competition among branded and unbranded products. Consumer products grab attention of buyers. All kinds of sellers consider this time as suitable season for trade. This is a season of discounts and offers.
MEDIA INTERVENTIONS
Media market is also alive with colorful advertisements and varieties of products including special issues and publications. Book exhibitions and media trade fairs are common. To intensify the Keralites’ insatiable thirst and hunger for consumer goods and consumerism, media pour oil by ads and programmes that influence silently. Those who are stand apart from market are picturised in a comic way. Religious values and rituals are promoted by brand ambassadors. Really, their interest is trade. But the way make harm to the secular feel of the state. Media play a crucial role in it. Print and television media are in a festive mood in news presentation and the programme side. Malayalam television channels conducted their own celebrations. They are also hijacked by big advertisements and sponsorships as newspaper spaces. The sponsored programmes put a seed of consumer life and creep into the minds. The feel influences buying capabilities. Brand addiction is the new trend. To make addicted the advertisers fruitfully utilize the cultural and religious symbols. That is why Pookkalam, new dress and new products become the embodiment of Onama rather than the paddy field and agriculture. They are trying to place the symbols in a changed and different context. The context is established in and by media. Media managers are happy in the successful placement because the ad revenue is the backbone of their set ups.
Ratheesh Kaliyadan
Legendary story behind the Onam celebration exposes the nostalgic feel of abundance which was the trade mark of the then Mavelinadu. Abundance is a way to envy too. The story also reveals Gods’ envy over legendary rulers who grabbed hearts and minds of their subjects.
Mahabali is one of the major martyrs of the envy. The king belongs to the Asura tradition. His regime was admired by everybody and became a celebrity all over, including the dais of Gods. The Mavelinadu was a kingdom with abundance where no theft, illegal practices and cheaters. Generosity was the embodiment of the king Mahabali.
The envious gods met, shared their anxiety and decided to teach the king a lesson; a lesson of cheating. Lord Vishnu was in charge of contacting Mahabali and implements the operation. Vishnu’s incarnation Vamana approached Mahabali. Vamana, a Brahmin dwarf boy begged the generous king for three steps of land. Mahabali granted the wish. Within seconds, Vamana grew into an enormous figure. The first step of the figure covered earth, the second one the heaven. The generous king became in a chaos. But he never went back to his promise. The king offered his head for Vamana to place his third step. The heavy step sent to Patala (beneath the earth). The envious gods sent a truthful king to hell. Vamana sanctioned permission to the king to visit his subjects once a year. The day is Onam. Every Malayali try their best to be in abundance in this day. The old saying “kanam vittum onam unnanam” (celebrate Onam even by selling the only piece of land) reflects the importance of Onam celebrations to Malayalis.
POOKKALAM
Onam is a harvest festival of Kerala. The celebrations are colored with beautiful pookkalams.The pookkalam begins on the day of Atham and ends on the day of Onam. It is the ‘formal inauguration’ of Onam festivities. Atham is the day in Malayalam month of Chingam. Atham pathu Ponnonam means tenth day of Atham is Onam. These ten days are decorated with pookkalams in front of every house. The much appreciated pookkalam is a floral tribute to the generous king Mahabali. Traditionally the flowers are collected from their own surroundings. Children were in the fore front of flower collection and making pookkalams. They collected local flowers and filled their baskets with the ‘brands’ like Thumba, Mukkuti, odapoo, Mandaram, Thechi, Krishnakireedam, Rajamalli, Shankhupushpam, Nangyarvattom and Aripoo. Kerala changed a lot due to social and political interventions. The state is far away from the agriculture and its cultural notions. So these flowers are not plenty now a day. Our children are not so much fond to collect flowers.
PRAKCOMMUNISM
Mahabali was a comrade!!! Was he actually? We have no specific answer. But he was a champion of a ‘socialist’ society long years before such a concept is emerged. Nostalgia of Onam reminds the long marched prak communist life. It sustained in pre-historic era. People lived in gothras where everything was public. Tools, food items and products were not private entities. They shared everything among the members. There is no clash between rich and poor. Even the concept of richness is unaware of them. Naturally, they had no scope for tortures and torturing mechanisms. Scope for theft and cheating is limited. Limited resources and limited utilities made them to be shared. The means of attaining dreams were also depended the limited sources. Onam is tagged with a legendary tale. Still it provides an ethos of such a life, called prak communism. Communists dream such a world order to be established through revolutions. Listen what Engels says: “socialism is the expression of absolute truth, reason and justice and has only to be discovered to conquer the entire world by virtue of its own power.”
MARKET IN ONAM CELEBRATIONS
Market oriented economy is the champions of almost all festivals. Onam is not an exception. Take the case of pookkalams. It is one of the major competitions in Onam days in Kerala. Almost all organizations that offer Onam celebrations conduct the competition. A feel that ‘what is the relevance of Onam without a ‘pookkalam’ is built consciously. Actually the feel take away the heart and ambience of Onam, the harvest festive. Instead of collecting flowers from around, we depend the flower market. The traditional flowers are hijacked by Jasmins and Chrysanthemums flowered in private fields. Majority of flowers flow from Gundelpet and Bangalore. The flower market is alive round clock. Pookkalams became costly by the dependence and conscious efforts to showcase the tradition.
This season is not only good for flowers but also for all trades. Onam season is the major market field of brands. It is a period of competition among branded and unbranded products. Consumer products grab attention of buyers. All kinds of sellers consider this time as suitable season for trade. This is a season of discounts and offers.
MEDIA INTERVENTIONS
Media market is also alive with colorful advertisements and varieties of products including special issues and publications. Book exhibitions and media trade fairs are common. To intensify the Keralites’ insatiable thirst and hunger for consumer goods and consumerism, media pour oil by ads and programmes that influence silently. Those who are stand apart from market are picturised in a comic way. Religious values and rituals are promoted by brand ambassadors. Really, their interest is trade. But the way make harm to the secular feel of the state. Media play a crucial role in it. Print and television media are in a festive mood in news presentation and the programme side. Malayalam television channels conducted their own celebrations. They are also hijacked by big advertisements and sponsorships as newspaper spaces. The sponsored programmes put a seed of consumer life and creep into the minds. The feel influences buying capabilities. Brand addiction is the new trend. To make addicted the advertisers fruitfully utilize the cultural and religious symbols. That is why Pookkalam, new dress and new products become the embodiment of Onama rather than the paddy field and agriculture. They are trying to place the symbols in a changed and different context. The context is established in and by media. Media managers are happy in the successful placement because the ad revenue is the backbone of their set ups.
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